New York City Declares End to MPox Outbreak after Nation-Leading Response

New York City on February 1 declared an end to the mpox outbreak as transmission has remained very low in the city for two consecutive months. The declaration follows the successful vaccination of more than 100,000 New Yorkers, and community partnerships in education and behavior change. The city had been the epicenter of the outbreak but launched a number of successful response strategies. The declaration comes as the U.S. public health emergency expired on Jan. 31.

“The end of the mpox outbreak is a moment of pride for us in public health, and represents the best of science and society coming together for quick action,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Our City vaccinated more than 100,000 people and was the first in the nation to pilot effective strategies, driving both public awareness and official response strategies. Combined with widespread and deep community partnerships, leadership from affected communities and advocates, and the steadfast engagement of providers and many others, we have dramatically reduced transmission, and are better prepared for future outbreaks. New York

City took bold action early and throughout this outbreak, and together helped turn the tide and mobilize the nation.”

“When mpox began spreading in New York City, the City and its public hospital system mobilized its facilities and launched a mobile vaccination fleet to bring the vaccine to all New Yorkers without exception,” said Andrew B. Wallach, MD, FACP, Ambulatory Care Chief Medical Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. “Our community vaccine hubs and mobile vaccine clinics have met people where they are, as they are, removing barriers to ensure those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ communities receive the full protection of the vaccine and the culturally-responsive, genderaffirming care they deserve. We are proud to have played a critical role in the City’s successful mpox response and thankful to all the frontline healthcare workers, engagement teams and community partners who worked so tirelessly to keep their fellow New Yorkers safe.”

Over the course of the 2022 outbreak, more than 155,000 doses of the mpox vaccine were administered in New York City alone. The number of vaccines administered in New York City exceeded the amount administered in 49 U.S. states. Only California administered more (more than 289,000 doses) followed by New York City and then the state of Florida (around 92,000 doses). In partnership with community, New York City consistently rolled out first-inthe-nation interventions. For example, New York City introduced a vaccination strategy that was followed nationally. In June 2022, using limited vaccine doses allocated to the City from the federal government, New York became the first jurisdiction to launch “extended PEP” vaccination clinics around Pride week –which opened vaccination to New Yorkers at risk of having had a recent exposure, rather than limiting to people who were a known contact of someone diagnosed with mpox. This innovative vaccine strategy opened a path for expanded vaccination access across the city and country. In addition, in response to concerns from partners, New York City was the first jurisdiction to call for an official change to the name monkeypox – and then eventually moving to unilaterally adopt a name-change for the city even before the WHO’s decision to update the name to mpox.l